GULFPORT, Miss. - Officials with four cruise ship lines will visit the Gulf Coast next month to evaluate the Mississippi State Port at Gulfport as a destination for their ships. <br>
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"We're thrilled with this," said Steve Richer, executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We're going to show them the port, the airport, tourist destinations and we'll have an opportunity to talk to them about the Coast." <br>
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Senior managers from Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Lines are looking at the coast as part of their search for new cruise destinations, said Don Allee, executive director of the state port. <br>
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Richer and Allee said the March 22 visit is another step toward making Gulfport a homeport or port of call. <br>
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"It's hard to say what's going to happen after Sept. 11, but this shows that we're on their radar screens," Allee said. <br>
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Carnival is familiar with the Mississippi and Alabama coasts. <br>
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The Carnival Sensation made a one-time stop in Gulfport on Dec. 31, 1999, and the Carnival Holiday will sail out of Mobile, Ala., on a short-term schedule next month. <br>
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